How Can We Lose Our World Class NRP Program? Top Down
| Written by Michael Katch |
| Saturday, 27 September 2008 |
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I have been asked by many to do a post mortem on the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, better known as NRP. In doing so, I feel more like a coroner doing an autopsy on a patient who is still in a coma than anything else.
NRP has until June 2010 to become Lazarus and return from that country where once one enters no one has been known to return. So, with that in mind, let's look at the errors that led to the demise of this once award-winning program.
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Neighborhood Revitalization Program — the Framework or compromise?
By: Amy Luesebrink 09/01/2008
People often ask "What makes the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) so unique from other city's community engagement programs?"
Citywide Minneapolis neighborhoods have invested $280 million through a neighborhood driven action plan that's reviewed by city departments and then approved by the neighborhoods, NRP Policy Board, City Council and Mayor. Here's just a partial list of the resulting projects and programs in the 4th Ward because of NRP and resident identified priorities during Phase I of NRP from 1995-2007:
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By: Staff 05/01/2008 Camden News
For the past year, neighborhood residents from all over Minneapolis have been working to extend the funding for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) for another 10 years. The tax increment financing (TIF) districts which support the funding for the NRP program are set to expire in mid-2009. Consequently, finding funding for the future has become critical. The effort to secure funds for the future is now focused on legislative action.
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Brock Hanson 31.JAN.08 Camden News
On December 20, 2007 the City Council‘s Committee of the Whole discussed and voted on the fate of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). Recommendations brought forth to the Committee of the Whole included what governance and funding would look like after 2009. City Council Members proudly voiced their support for “Neighborhood Organizations” and all of the work that they do for the City, but the 81 Minneapolis NRP neighborhood organizations should prepare for some major changes beginning in 2009 if no further support or changes are approved. |
The program formerly known as NRP
January 28, 2008
That is what will be said about NRP (Neighborhood Revitalization Program) if the “Framework for the Future” is enacted by the City. Twenty-five people sat through the meeting last night up at East Side Services not really expecting much, and that’s what was delivered.
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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) supports continuing the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). We urge the City of Minneapolis to take action to protect NRP and ensure that it stays intact after 2009. ...Click here for the full letter.
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Have you seen the signs? You may see signs of what your neighborhood has done for you — but also look beyond the signs
Signs are popping up all around the seven Camden neighborhoods saying, “This Project funded in part by your Neighborhood Association and the Minneapolis NRP.” Neighborhood organizations and their members are proudly displaying these signs because they have been a part of planning or partially funding many projects over the past 17 years through the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). In the first phase of NRP the seven Camden neighborhood organizations were allocated a total of $12.3 million, with $6.48 million dedicated to housing improvements. So you might see signs by Shingle Creek Commons where multiple neighborhoods contributed nearly $250,000 of their housing dollars toward building senior housing for our community.
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The Stakes: Civic Engagement at a Community Level and Swing Sets
By Chuck Terhark, METRO Magazine, December 2007
The Neighborhood Revitalization Project began in 1990 as a 20-year, $20 million annual project to turn Minneapoliss neighborhoods into lively, self-sustaining, safe and livable communities. With just two years to go on the citys commitment to the program, the success stories are many.
With NRP funds, our neighborhood has purchased new playground equipment for the park, helped start several businesses, helped the Johnson Street merchants with grants and helped countless residents fix up their homes, says Cindy Schulte, president of the Audubon Neighborhood Association in Northeast Minneapolis...
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Editorial
By Jeremy Stratton (November 19 2007)
Since its inception the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) has been the backbone of citizen participation in Minneapolis it created or bolstered neighborhood organizations charging citizens with the responsibility to decide when where and how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on housing and civic improvements programming and staff. With this grand experiment the city put its money where its mouth is creating the bedrock of community engagement in Minneapolis.
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Miller faults mayor, Council for NRP program demise
by Virginia Rybin
Last Updated: 11/16/2007
...A major program that allows Minneapolis residents to set priorities for improving their neighborhoods is short of money and mired in controversy as it nears the end of its funding cycle in 2009.
The future of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program is in doubt, and the money available for Phase II of the program may be only 70 percent of what neighborhood groups expected.
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Miller faults mayor Council for NRP program demise: St. Paul Schools
by Virginia Rybin
Last Updated: 11/16/2007
St. Paul has its own system - a network of District Councils - to involve neighborhoods in decisions about development, housing and other programs.
It is very different from the group of Minneapolis community organizations that receive Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) money. St. Paul's 17 District Councils do not receive money to do projects in their communities....
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Miller faults mayor, Council for NRP program demise: Community engagement
by Virginia Rybin
Last Updated: 11/16/2007 3:52:38 PM
Encouraging involvement by minorities is one of the major goals of a community engagement process being developed by the city of Minneapolis.
"We need to find ways to engage more diverse communities, especially minorities and immigrants," Mayor R. T. Rybak said, and the city also needs to reach out to others who cannot attend evening meetings of neighborhood and city-wide boards, such as parents with young children and people who work nights.
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Minneapolis NRP listen to CM Lilligren, Mr. Miller and Ms. Evans
KFAI: Truth to Tell Listen anytime!
TTT's Andy Driscoll and Lynnell Mickelsen led an important conversation about the future of the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program, if it has
one. Mayor R.T. Rybak, it turns out, couldn't attend to talk about why the NRP should disappear in favor of a more centralized Community Engagement system. But, joining the conversation is Councilmember Robert Lilligren.
NRP advocates believe neighborhoods deserve to retain control over redevelopment projects where they occur. Among them are NRPs long-time executive director, Bob Miller and its only at-large neighborhood board member, activist Debbie Evans.
with ANDY DRISCOLL, Host and Producer
and LYNNELL MICKELSEN, Co-host
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7/10ths of 1 percent — can the City afford not to fund and continue NRP? Will the City Council and Mayor say yes or no to this proven program?
Brock Hanson
01.NOV.07
Camden Community News
The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) began during the 1990s, when the City of Minneapolis was facing many of the same dilemmas facing us today: vacant and boarded homes, rising crime, schools closing and urban flight. Thankfully, our elected officials were courageous and visionary enough to think “outside the box” and establish this award winning program. NRP has stabilized, rebuilt and improved our neighborhoods, communities and the city. NRP has been recognized by the United Nations for the improvement it has done for our communities - making it one of three programs in the U.S. to earn such a distinction.
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Residents launch Save the NRP group
October 22, 2007, 11:15am
By Jake Weyer
Southwest Journal
Until last year, Sheryl Senkiw was a shy, 44-year-old Minneapolitan who didn’t know the name of her neighborhood and had never heard of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
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Neighborhoods brace for more cuts to the Neighborhood Revitalization Program
By Michelle Bruch Mary O'Regan Dylan Thomas Jake Weyer and Kari VanDerVeen
Southwest Journal
Like struggling neighborhoods across Minneapolis Whittier battled urban blight through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP).
" Particularly to a neighborhood like Whittier that was pretty desolate pretty delinquent NRP really gave it back its dignity " said Marian Biehn executive director of the Whittier Alliance a neighborhood organization.
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Funds for NRP
Star Tribune Op/Ed, October 25, 2007
Jay Kelly, Longfellow Neighborhood
The city makes a grab
Steve Brandt's Oct. 18 story about funding for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program in Minneapolis misses the deeper story.
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City officials support cornerstone of neighborhood involvement — for now
By Anna Pratt
October 23, 2007
During a Committee of the Whole meeting on Oct. 18., the City Council voted unanimously to keep the dwindling Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) partially funded through its second 10-year phase, officially set to end in 2009.
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LONGFELLOW NEIGHBORHOOD THREATENED!
Marcea Mariani's
The Messenger
How it looks, what amenities it offers and the level of crime judges a neighborhood. If judged positive, people choose to live there, if undesirable, people choose to live elsewhere. Today, our Longfellow neighborhood reflects an influx of young families as well as established residents who choose to remain until retirement and beyond.
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Revitalization program falling short of money slated for Minneapolis neighborhoods
The Minneapolis council will try to help the NRP by funding 70 percent of the amount originally intended.By Steve Brandt, Star Tribune October 18, 2007 – 9:47 PM
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